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Itead Review

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Should I use Itead?

[Support Center](https://itead.freshdesk.com/support/home) - itead.cc

· 2 days ago

Budget DIY buyers and Home Assistant tinkerers get real value from Sonoff hardware. Security-sensitive homes and support-dependent buyers face documented pairing flaws and slow service.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 14 public sources. Many snippets are truncated, so exact ratings and prices stay unverified.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security posture

Pricing

Not disclosed

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed

Best for

  • DIY smart home hobbyists
  • Home Assistant tinkerers
  • Budget switch and sensor buyers
  • Makers needing cheap PCB runs

Not for

  • Security-sensitive homes
  • Anyone needing vendor SLA support
  • Fleet deployments at offices
  • Buyers who refuse cloud accounts

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

Out of the box, devices depend on the eWeLink cloud; local control needs hubs or flashing.

high

Researchers showed Sonoff plugs transmitted Wi-Fi passwords unencrypted during pairing; isolate IoT devices on a separate network.

medium

OTA firmware unlock broke in version 3.6.0; plan custom firmware before buying.

medium

Support runs through Freshdesk tickets; buyers report slow shipping and response times.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Devices sell at very low prices
  • Broad range: switches, Zigbee sticks, hubs, panels, cameras
  • Works with Home Assistant, including Zigbee dongles
  • Decade-long track record in maker reviews
  • Alternative firmware options exist for tinkerers

Cons

  • EWeLink quick pairing used weak encryption
  • Smart plugs sent Wi-Fi passwords unencrypted in 2021 tests
  • XSS vulnerability in Sonoff TH devices
  • OTA unlock broke in 3.6.0, blocking custom firmware
  • Shipping and support delays reported repeatedly

Sources & method

- 13 sources - Known issues exist: two 2020 CVEs and 2021 research on unencrypted pairing traffic.

official x1review x9security x3
  • CVE-2020-7470: XSS in Sonoff TH, Cross-site scripting flaw in Sonoff TH devices, published by Positive Technologies in 2020.
  • CVE-2020-12702: weak eWeLink pairing encryption, EWeLink quick pairing mode used weak encryption on ITEAD Sonoff devices during setup.
  • Unencrypted Wi-Fi password transmission, 2021 research found Sonoff and Tuya smart plugs transmitted Wi-Fi passwords unencrypted during setup.

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • Not disclosed

    Starting price

  • 13

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Reviewers call the hardware low cost across a decade.
  • Ease of use: 3/5. EWeLink app works, Home Assistant setup needs tinkering.
  • Feature depth: 3/5. Wide device range, but custom firmware paths break.
  • Support quality: 2/5. Shipping delays and support complaints recur for years.
  • Security posture: 1/5. Two CVEs plus unencrypted pairing traffic in research.
  • 2 Public CVEs CVE-2020-7470 and CVE-2020-12702, both from 2020
  • 10+ years Review track record Device and PCB reviews date back to 2013
  • Budget Price positioning Reviewers cite low prices across many threads
  • 3+ Product lines Sonoff devices, Nextion displays, iHost hub

Pricing

Not disclosed

Security

Known issues exist: two 2020 CVEs and 2021 research on unencrypted pairing traffic.

  • CVE-2020-7470: XSS in Sonoff THCross-site scripting flaw in Sonoff TH devices, published by Positive Technologies in 2020.⁷
  • CVE-2020-12702: weak eWeLink pairing encryptionEWeLink quick pairing mode used weak encryption on ITEAD Sonoff devices during setup.⁸
  • Unencrypted Wi-Fi password transmission2021 research found Sonoff and Tuya smart plugs transmitted Wi-Fi passwords unencrypted during setup.⁶

What users say

Buyers praise low prices and Home Assistant compatibility but report support delays, setup friction, and security concerns.

“Impressed with these Sonoff temp humidity sensors!”
Reddit, r/homeassistant
“ITead is taking too long. What other alternatives are there?”
EEVblog forum

Alternatives

Compare Itead with each alternative.

  • Shelly

    Guess: local-first Wi-Fi switches with open APIs, no cloud needed.

  • Conbee II

    Zigbee stick rival named in Home Assistant user comparisons.

    Itead vs Conbee II

  • Tuya

    Budget smart home ecosystem with a wider brand catalog.

Full analysis

Based on 14 public sources. Many snippets are truncated, so exact ratings and prices stay unverified.

Cheap Sonoff devices deliver strong DIY value, but pairing security flaws and slow support rule them out for critical homes.

Methodology

Based on 14 public sources. Many snippets are truncated, so exact ratings and prices stay unverified.

Read how a report is made.

Sources

  1. ITEAD Studio Reviews (Trustpilot)trustpilot.com
    review
  2. Experience with Sonoff / Itead zigbee devices?reddit.com
    review
  3. ITEAD Studio Reviews on PCBShopperpcbshopper.com
    review
  4. Itead Studio Sonoff and Slampher: Low Cost Smart Home Solutioncommunity.element14.com
    review
  5. ITead Studio PCB service reviewlowpowerlab.com
    review
  6. Sonoff and Tuya smart plugs found to transmit unencrypted passwordscnx-software.com
    security
  7. CVE-2020-7470: XSS in Itead Sonoff Thdbugs.ptsecurity.com
    security
  8. Weak Encryption in eWeLink Quick Pairing Mode (CVE-2020-12702)mallory.ai
    security
  9. Product security pageitead.cc
    official
  10. Is ota_unlock broken in 3.6.0?reddit.com
    review
  11. iTead is taking too long. What other alternatives are there?eevblog.com
    review
  12. Sonoff ZBMINI Reviewblakadder.com
    review
  13. Seeed Studio vs ITead Studio vs OSH Parkreddit.com
    review

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